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Mylan launches 18 HIV drugs in India
pharmatimes, World News | August 07, 2012
Days after linking up with Gilead Sciences to make cheap HIV generics, Mylan has started commercial operations in India with the launch of 18 antiretrovirals for the treatment of the disease.
The US generics major notes that India is home to the world's third largest population of people with HIV/AIDS, with 2.4 million people living with the disease, of which fewer than 20% have access to treatment. Mylan says it will have one of the largest field forces exclusively specialising in HIV/AIDS in India.
Mylan chief executive Heather Bresch said the firm "can set a new standard in the treatment of HIV/AIDS in India by providing healthcare providers and those living with the disease access to high quality, affordable medicines and by supporting physicians in their efforts to educate and treat their patients". She added that "we see significant growth potential in India, the world's second largest pharmaceutical market by volume, and look forward to continuing to expand our operations in India in additional therapeutic categories".
In August 2006. Mylan spent about $736 million for an up-to-71.5% stake in Indian drugmaker Matrix Laboratories and went on to fully acquire the Hyderabad-based group. Last week, Mylan and Indian drugmakers Ranbaxy Laboratories and Strides Arcolab signed a deal with Gilead Sciences to promote access to "high-quality, low-cost generic versions" of the US firm's HIV drug Emtriva (emtricitabine) in developing countries.
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Gilead signs low-cost HIV drug pact with India generic firms
World News | August 03, 2012
Gilead Sciences has linked up with Ranbaxy Laboratories, Mylan and Strides Arcolab to promote access to "high-quality, low-cost generic versions" of the USA firm's HIV drug Emtriva in developing countries.
The deal covers single tablet regimens containing Emtriva (emtricitabine), and fixed-dose combinations of the drug co-formulated with other Gilead HIV medicines. The company will provide a technology transfer for the manufacture of emtricitabine, "together with funding to assist with investment in process improvements to reduce manufacturing costs".
Gilead noted that World Health Organisation guidelines recommend emtricitabine, as well as the company's Viread (tenofovir disoproxil) as preferred components of first- and second-line HIV therapy. However, it said that "cost is currently a barrier to broadening access to regimens that include emtricitabine when compared to other regimens, including widely-used lamivudine (3TC)-based regimens".
The new agreements are designed to enable Ranbaxy, Mylan and Strides to produce high volumes of FTC/Viread-based therapies, "thereby establishing sustainable price parity to these alternative regimens," Gilead said. Ranbaxy chief executive Arun Sawhney noted that his firm and Gilead "have a strong collaboration going in the area of HIV/AIDS [and] we are pleased to extend this association".
His counterpart at Gilead, John Martin, said that more than 2.7 million patients living with HIV in developing countries are currently receiving a Viread-containing regimen, including Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil). He added that "India’s pharmaceutical industry is a world leader in process chemistry, and our ongoing collaboration will be critical for furthering access to affordable, high-quality, first-line HIV treatment for developing countries".
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